by Karen Davis, PhD., president of United Poultry Concerns A woman employed on a chicken “breeder” farm in Maryland wrote a letter once to the local newspaper berating the defenders of chickens for trying to make her lose her job, threatening her ability to support herself and her daughter. For her, “breeder” hens were “mean” birds who […]
Aussie prof challenges “invasion biologists” on their own turf
Contends “compassionate conservation” is most effective protection of biodiversity SYDNEY, Australia––The conservation establishments of both Australia and Israel might like to designate Arian D. Wallach an “invasive species” and slate her for extirpation. Indeed, Wallach’s arguments could eventually put the entire global industry of exterminating “invasive species” out of business. Like any successful adaptive […]
Brush possum killings build momentum for “boycott New Zealand” drive
Coercing children to kill possums oversteps international bounds WELLINGTON, New Zealand––If New Zealand conservation minister Maggie Barry held the portfolios for attracting tourism and economic development instead, she might be less notoriously dismissive of increasing international humane concern about the outcomes of the scheme she announced in 2015 to rid the nation of “invasive” […]
Perdue Farms agrees to animal welfare concessions after 30-year battle
Henry Spira posthumously wins long fight with the late Frank Perdue after Perdue son throws in the towel SALISBURY, Maryland––Perdue Farms, a $6 billion-a-year pioneer of factory-style chicken farming and now the fourth largest chicken producer in the U.S., on June 27, 2016 announced a four-point program to improve chicken welfare. The Perdue announcement, […]
Conclusion: what the life & death of Harambe the gorilla means
Fast-moving events left no time for philosophy Part III of a three-part series. See also: The myth & mystery of Harambe the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla; Myth: that the gorilla Harambe “protected” fallen four-year-old; And the lesson from Harambe’s death is? Well, it’s not to blame mom. As the Harambe case developed, the events in the Cincinnati […]
Jasper’s gift: the real-life care bear
“Poster bear” for ending bile farming Jasper, 30, the moon bear who became “poster bear” for the Animals Asia Foundation campaign against farming bears to extract bile from their livers, was euthanized on April 29, 2016 due to incurable cancer. “Moon bear Jasper spent 15 years in a Chinese bile farm crush cage,” the Animals […]
Zoos tried not to let anyone see an elephant fly
17 eles flown from Swaziland to Dallas, Wichita, & Omaha zoos DALLAS, Texas––Why were 17 elephants stuffed aboard a custom-built Boeing 747 on March 8, 2016 and flown secretly to Alliance Field in Dallas? It wasn’t just because trunks are not allowed as carry-on baggage on regularly scheduled commercial flights. The 17 elephants, equivalent in […]
“Coon hunt” fundraiser may be seen as racist, frets St. Jude hospital
Wants to change name but not disassociate from “World’s Largest Coon Hunt” MEMPHIS, Tennessee––Unfazed by 28 years of protest against the cruelty to animals involved in the now-41-year-old Decatur County World’s Largest Coon Hunt, an annual benefit for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis, the hospital may at last disassociate itself from […]
Snow Leopard: Stories from the Roof of the World
Edited by Don Hunter Univ. Press of Colorado (5589 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 206-C, Boulder, CO 80303), 2012. 216 pages. Hardcover $26.95, e-book $21.95. Reviewed by Merritt Clifton Don Hunter, who assembled Snow Leopard: Stories from the Roof of the World, acknowledges inspiration and help in arranging publication from wildlife ethologist Marc Bekoff, co-editor of the 2008 […]